Sly
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 730
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Just got home after the "mini" route.
Talk about an eventful 70 miles!
Fell over on the first climb when attempting to overtake someone - caigt the edge, lost momentum, one foot unclipped but other wouldn't play along and down I went! Took a full 3 minutes to re-mount as it was so bloody steep! Lost my riding partner at this point and later found that she has also fallen off at the same point! Muppetry in motion. 
Made slow but steady progress down to Llangollen, and up to World's End, but then the rains came. Received a text from the missus checking I was ok, and stupidly attempted to respond on the move. Looked up, saw a zig zag bend that I was far too late to make. Some super human bike handling skills (pure luck) saw me fly down 20 ft of boulders, rubble and other assorted junk emerging with open mouthed confusion and relief on the right road at the bottom!!  In the process of bumping over terrain that a MTB would struggle with, I accidentally sent my text and held on to the phone throughout! Genius or idiocy - I think I know the answer to that one 
Started to really come down as I climbed over Rhosesmor and all the way over Moel Arthur. The descent down to the second feed station was horrendous - couldn't see a thing through the rain, brakes were completely ineffective, and a ridiculously fast descent through narrow winding roads. It was not fun. And my computer stopped working in the deluge.
Didn't take on any food at the 2nd station thinking I was only 5 miles from home, but a revised route took the mini participants off to Denbigh and then back to Ruthin - 9 hard miles despite the relatively easy roads.
I saw a few people bound for the mega route considering cutting it short and then split off - I don't blame them, hats off to anyone ding the full 140 miles!
I found local knowledge prevented me making any directional mistakes, but I heard a lot of people saying they'd found the small arrows difficult to spot at times. Apart from that, the mini route organisation was really good with excellent start and end point arrangements and friendly helpful marshalling.
Impressed with myself for completing the course after 10 months of cyling, and impressed with my first Sportive.
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bfergie
Reged: 19/04/2008
Posts: 1622
Loc: Wickerman land,Scotland
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Well done sly...I hope you're not allowed near sharp objects with that number of mishaps but texting on a bike!!! heard it all now. Glad you're still alive and when you swapping your road bike for something more suitable? 
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VOTE PENGUIN!!!
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hubbub
Reged: 22/10/2007
Posts: 517
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With habits like that you should be in a 4 X 4 
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bfergie
Reged: 19/04/2008
Posts: 1622
Loc: Wickerman land,Scotland
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He has one... thats what's worrying me!
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VOTE PENGUIN!!!
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Sly
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 730
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I did drive the course the day before in my Land Rover, so I guess it just seeped in to my riding!
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Sly
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 730
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Here's where I cut the corner...
In true fisherman's speak, it looked a lot bigger and more dangerous in person! Sorry about the low quality - it's a crappy camera phone, I'm afraid.
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bfergie
Reged: 19/04/2008
Posts: 1622
Loc: Wickerman land,Scotland
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Taking photos while texting and cycling off road all at once!! your talents are wasted! Oh and taking short cuts...tut tut tut!
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VOTE PENGUIN!!!
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CattlegridConspiracy
Reged: 25/04/2008
Posts: 276
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*speechless*
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Only a true cyclist knows the taste of tarmac.
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Sly
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 730
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I think I learned a few things today...
A few things that I WILL NOT be doing again!
And that doesn't include silly hilly bike rides.
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Sly
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 730
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Horseshoe descent
Just handheld camera. Didn't dare carry it on round the bends, which will surprise you given my previous tales of stupidity...
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wuverley
Reged: 16/05/2008
Posts: 1495
Loc: Man of Kent
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I don't mean to be rude but you need to find a better way of taking these pictures.... cos the present methods seem a bit.... dangerous.
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Invicta
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Sly
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 730
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I know. I just wanted a quick vid from my first event. Won't be doing it again, I can tell you! You can be as rude as you like - I deserve it!
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bfergie
Reged: 19/04/2008
Posts: 1622
Loc: Wickerman land,Scotland
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So what was your time/speed for the event? Stick to cycling Mr Spielberg!
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VOTE PENGUIN!!!
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Sly
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 730
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My computer drowned, but the event dibbers clocked me at 5:27 including feed stops, crashes, saddle repairs (oh yeah, forgot to mention that the crash twisted and loosened my saddle).
It's probably 30 mins slower than I wanted, but I've never ridden anything so hilly for so long and it gives me something to aim at next year (or next week, seeing as it's only a short ride away from home!)
The downhills never seem to make up for the ups 
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Sly
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 730
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I wonder how El_Cid et al got on with the mega route?
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bfergie
Reged: 19/04/2008
Posts: 1622
Loc: Wickerman land,Scotland
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Good effort, I now have a target speed to go for on the SUS08, just a few miles more to cover.
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VOTE PENGUIN!!!
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daveno7
Reged: 04/03/2007
Posts: 359
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well done sly...its fun sometimes..
keep smiling
daveno7
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thatwomanagain
Reged: 30/07/2006
Posts: 1959
Loc: Hugh Porter country...
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Quote:
Here's where I cut the corner...
In true fisherman's speak, it looked a lot bigger and more dangerous in person! Sorry about the low quality - it's a crappy camera phone, I'm afraid.
I thought this was a sportive?? So where's everyone else?? Were you off the front or off the back?? 
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wuverley
Reged: 16/05/2008
Posts: 1495
Loc: Man of Kent
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He's down the hill
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Invicta
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wuverley
Reged: 16/05/2008
Posts: 1495
Loc: Man of Kent
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Try a tandem for filming, you'll go even faster downhill but if someone else is steering (thought I'd better spell that out), you'll get even better pictures. 
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Invicta
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Sly
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 730
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It was odd - almost a solo ride punctuated with a mile or two of tagging on with other riders here and there. The majority of entrants were supposedly doing the 140m route and set off between 7am and 8am. The mini routers set off in small dribs and drabs after 8am, so groups were few and far between.
I also think the severity of the first climb (within 1 mile) separated any groups out. I lost my riding partner here and never saw her again until the end! So many people I spoke with said it was almost suicidal to have a 27% climb so early before your legs are warmed up, whilst others said "wow, what an amazing start!"
I don't know what other Sportives are like, but I only saw one group of 3, and apart from that, single riders sparsely dotted around the course.
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Sly
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 730
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Quote:
Try a tandem for filming, you'll go even faster downhill but if someone else is steering (thought I'd better spell that out), you'll get even better pictures.
Ahh... so I don't sit up front and hold the camera? Getting the idea here...
What are tandems like up steep hills? Easier cos there's 2 of you, or harder cos it's heavier and not so chuckable?
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El_Cid
Reged: 02/08/2007
Posts: 871
Loc: Ilkley, Yorks
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Glad you are Ok Sly, well done.
I set off with my chums ( obviously with the exception of Cacophony), but I was shocked after only 2 minutes by the severity of the first climb. My mates are all hardy grimpeurs and it was quickly obvious that I was not going to be able to keep pace with them on this type of climb!
So I stuck to my task of mainly riding solo and trying to limit my losses. I passed some riders and some passed me, and occasionally I rode along with other random riders for a while.
It was tough work, breezy with some heavy showers and fine misty rain on the tops. But nice and warm when the sun came out.
For me it was nice to ride in a different area than usual. Some truly wonderfull scenery. Good camaraderie amongst the sportivists.
At the last checkpoint with 22m to go, I realised that a gold standard time was a remote possibility. So, assissted by a super tailwind I gave it everything over The Stingers and flew down the final descent into Ruthin. But it was to no avail, I was 5mins outside the target.
But a great day out. 140 miles. Super scenery. Hard climbs(urgh). Good feedpoints. Nice hot showers at the HQ to ease aching limbs. So I would recommend the event to anybody who is considering it for next year - you might not see me there though, the old body is giving me a bit of gip today.
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"TODAY, WE RIDE"
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Sly
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 730
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Excellent achievement - and 5 minutes is easily accounted for by feedstops, so I think you could take it as a moral Gold standard!
Have heard a guy broke his leg on the descent to the 60 mile feed station, and another in a neck brace near the 30 mile station. I'm glad I was lucky enough to come through unscathed.
How was the Road to Hell and the Bwlch y Groes compared to the mini route roads?
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El_Cid
Reged: 02/08/2007
Posts: 871
Loc: Ilkley, Yorks
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They were both very tough. On The Bwlch, I was climbing up through the trees, looking ahead I could see what I thought was the top. As I emerged from the trees I then saw the full horror of the rest of the climb in front of me. The chap from Cyclosport website, Mark Harding, was standing at the edge of the road here in the shelter of some rocks filming the riders. He was saying "Nearly at the top". When quite obviously it was bloody miles. Most amusing (for him).
But great scenery.
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"TODAY, WE RIDE"
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Sly
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 730
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Mega results here
Mini here
Liked your mate's write up, El Cid - very detailed.
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wuverley
Reged: 16/05/2008
Posts: 1495
Loc: Man of Kent
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13 hours on the bike, what fun!
Poor bloke, but well done for finishing.
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Invicta
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Scouser
Reged: 17/02/2008
Posts: 262
Loc: N Wales
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well i've laughed myself (respectfully) right through this. Here's me thought you were dead professional and never came off the bike. I've come off mine for other reasons than adventuruos rides - i.e. turning around to eye someone up, or going out after a glass or so of wine - which was in years gone by, not nowadays - age catches up
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Sly
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 730
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Well Dave Lloyd is saying that he's got something "bigger and better" planned for the event next year, so I'm going to get my knee pads and body armour at the ready!
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Gruntius
Reged: 04/07/2008
Posts: 3
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New guy so go easy, I rode the Mini DLMC last weekend and am over the moon with my result having finished 17th.
Sly, your little film looked good to me, I go over the horseshoe at least once a week from each direction, I've been over the horseshoe and World's End twice since Sunday and it doesn't get any easier. Earlier in the thread you said you are local to this ride, do you mind me asking where you live? I live in Penycae so I'm close to the course too.
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Sly
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 730
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Hi there - well done on 17th, that's damn good going! Your local knowledge and practice must have rocketed you around that section of the course!
I'm the other side of Hope Mountain from you - down the hill from Penymynydd.
Have you seen the first video yet? Are you on it? I'm not on it, so I guess I started after the cameraman left, or maybe part 2 will feature me... the pics at http://www.derekbphotography.co.uk/gallery.html are good, too, even though I'm only in one. Again I think the photographer snapped mostly the mega route field then got bored and buggered off. I would have liked one on the Horseshoe, but there you go!
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Gruntius
Reged: 04/07/2008
Posts: 3
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You're probably right there Sly, I did seem to feel confident going up the local hills. Although the real reason is I was hanging on to the wheel of Andy Castle from Alf Jones Cycles in Wrexham from just after the first feed stop. He ended up finishing 3rd!
I couldn't get the video to play all the way through so I don't know if I'm on it but I did see him filming on the first climb and like an idiot I stopped right by him. If I'm on it you will recognise me, I'm the one with the freaky beard.
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